It Happens Only in India: Chemotherapy Delayed for Want of a Ration Card!

A 50-year-old poor patient in Chennai was denied cancer treatment at the Government General Hospital for two days because she had lost her ration card.

CHENNAI: This is the height of bureaucratic indifference. A 50-year-old poor patient in Chennai was denied cancer treatment at the Government General Hospital for two days because she had lost her ration card. On Thursday, after much pleading, the woman was given the life-saving chemotherapy, but was told that she should produce a duplicate copy of the card when she returned for the next therapy in the first week of February.

The government promises free treatment to everyone but the hospital often tries to include such patients under the state health insurance scheme. Not having a ration card or another proof of address would mean that the patient is ineligible under this scheme, which brings government money to the hospital and the treating doctors. "Doctors told us they would help us secure the insurance card if we bring the ration card," said Selvi's son S Zoyal, who works at a catering unit in Anna Nagar. The hospital refused treatment under the general category, despite Selvi's urgent need for chemotherapy.

Getting a duplicate card isn't easy. Zoyal has to get a 'not traceable' certificate from the cops. When he went to the police station, he was asked to bring a copy of the old ration card or any other proof of residence. "We keep moving houses and don't have a bank account or an LPG connection in our name. Without any of this, I don't know how we would get a ration card and continue my mother's treatment," he said.

Selvi, a widow who was working as a domestic maid, was diagnosed with breast cancer by doctors at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre in Porur. Her employer funded the surgery for the removal of the breast tumour. Selvi, however, came to GH for further treatment which includes six sessions of chemotherapy as she could not afford a private hospital.

'Just following rules'

However, oncologists at the government hospitals insisted on the ration card. "We have high targets to admit and treat state health insurance patients. But besides that, rules mandate we ask for address proof. When a patient comes from another state, the hospital charges them a small amount as consultation and treatment fee. To establish that a patient belongs to this state we ask them to submit their ration card. They did not even have electoral identity cards," said a senior doctor.

However, hospital dean Dr V Kanagasabai contradicted the doctor's version. "Many patients from other states, including migrant labourers come here. They can't afford to pay for treatment. We give free treatment at our hospital," he said. The dean said he would have made arrangements had Zoyal met him.

Zoyal, a school dropout, said he approached many senior doctors. "It's was difficult for me to meet even the chief doctor in the ward. Nurses and ward boys who drive us away from the doctor's room. Then how do we meet the hospital head?" he said.